Feeding mechanism for shaker or jigging conveyers



l July 29, 19421. CRAWFORD FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SHAKER 0R JIGGING CONVEYE Filed Oct. 3, 1938 July 29 '1941. L F. CRAWFORD 2,25Ll 18 FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SHAKER 0R JIGGING coNvEYERs Filed Oct. 5v, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 29, 1941- L. F. RAWFORD 2,251,118

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SHAKER OR JIGGING CONVEYERS Filed Oct. 3, 1958 3 Sheets--Sheei'I 3 pisser@ Patented July 29, 1941 ICE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SHAKER OR JIGGING CONVEYERS Loyal F. Crawford, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago,

Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application October 3, 1938, Serial No. 232,919

18 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in feeding mechanisms for shaker or jigging conveyers ofthe type utilized for picking up and transporting loose material such as coal, rock, or the like in mines.

Heretofore, feeding mechanisms for shaker conveyers of the friction grip type, such as is shown in Patent No. 2,127,902, have been successfully used for extending a shovel on the end of an extensible trough section from va reciprocating trough section, both along the level and ascending grades. There are certain conditions, however, where the grade, along which the extensible trough section is to be extended, may be such as to impair the efficiency of the feeding apparatus. This is particularly true with automatic types of feeding mechanisms such as is shown in an application Serial No. 187,145, filed by Ernst R. Bergmann on Jan. 2'7, 1938, now Patent No. 2,186,472, wherein the shovel is extended automatically, due to the reciprocating action of the conveyer and resistance of the extensible trough section along the ground.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide a positive feeding means for an exf tensible trough section, auxiliary to the friction grip feeding mechanism, for holding the extensible trough section from backward slipping movement, and which is selectively operable for positively feeding this trough section where the pitch of the coalseam may be such as to impair the efficiency of the friction grip feeding mechanism.

Another object of my invention is to provide an auxiliary feeding mechanism which is fluid pressure operated and so arranged that pressure in the system is attained by the reciprocating action of the conveyer.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the accompanying specification proceeds.

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a shaker conveyer trough line, showing a friction grip feeding mechanism for extendingcr retracting an extensible trough section with respect to the conveyor trough line, with an auxiliary positive feeding mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the trough line shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the trough line with parts of the auxiliary feeding mechanism shown in substantially longitudinal section, in order to more clearly illustrate certain details of construction thereof;

Figure 4 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 3 with the parts shown in a different position of adjustment than in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the pan line adjacent the feeding mechanism, with certain parts broken away and shown in horizontal section in order to illustrate certain details of my invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken substantially along line 6 6 of Figure 5; and I Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the trough line, illustrating the swivel and pendulum and the method of providing fluid pressure in the system. v

In the drawings, the embodiment of my invention illustrated includes, a shaker conveyer trough line lll having a swivel ll interposed therein, to permit the forward end of the trough line to be swung from side to side and enable material to be gathered from various points along a working face. Said swivel is of an ordinary construction well known to those skilled in the art and hasV a conveyer trough section l2 secured to and projecting from its forward end.

The conveyer trough section l2 has a friction gripping type of feeding mechanism l5 pivotally mounted on the forward end thereof and disposed in advance thereof, which is adapted to extend or retract an extensible trough section I6 with respect to said conveyer trough section. Said extensible trough section is mounted at its rear end on a shoe ll and has a shovel i8 projecting from its forward end and forming a continuation thereof and resting upon the ground at its forward end, Flanged bearing plates I9, I9 extend laterally from the upper sides of said extensible trough section, which are adapted to form 'a track for flanged rollers 2E), 2l) mounted in the upwardly projecting sides of a bracket 2i. Said bracket extends beneath and forwardly from and upwardly along opposite sides of said conveyer trough section and forms a support for the feeding mechanism l5 and a means for supporting said conveyer trough section on said extensible trough section.

The feeding mechanism l5, herein shown, has been clearly illustrated and described in` the aforementioned application of E. R. Bergmann so will only herein be described in so far as is necessary to make my present invention clearly understandable. Said feeding mechanism includes a pair of spaced carrier members 22, 22

each having a pair of friction grip blocks 23 and 24 which are adapted' to selectively engage the upper and lower surfaces of the bearing plates |9, I9. Said carrier members each have pivotal connection at their lower end with a spring link 25 which forms a means for engaging said grip blocks with said bearing plates. Said spring links are disposed below the trough section I6 and are yieldably mounted in a. forked bracket 26, which projects forwardly from and is pivotally mounted on the forward end of the bracket 2|. A link 29 is pivotally connected to the upper end of each of said carrier members on a bolt 30, which bolt also forms a means for pivotally connecting the upper grip block 23 to said carrier member. ,Said link extends downwardly and rearwardly from said carrier member and is pivotally connected at its rear end to a crank 3| (see Figure 3).

A pair of hand levers 33, 33 are provided to adjust the position of the carrier members 22, 22 to extend the shovel |8 and extensible trough section |6, which, as herein shown, is a rearwardly inclined position, or to a forwardly inclined position to retract said shovel and extensible trough section. Said hand levers are mounted on opposite ends of a transverse shaft 34 which is mounted adjacent its ends in the brackets 26, 26. Said hand levers are operatively connected With the carrier members 22, 22 to change the inclination thereof. by means of cranks 35, 35, mounted on the shaft 34 between the sides of the brackets 25. 26, and links 32, 32 connecting said cranks with the cranks 3|, 3| (see Figure 3).

Referring now in particular tothe means for positively extending the extensible trough section |6 from the conveyer trough section |2 when operating along ascending grades and the gripping force of the friction grip blocks 23 and 24 is not suiicient to positively extend said extensible trough section from said conveyer trough section, a fluid pressure cylinder 36 is provided. Said cylinder is herein shown as being pivotally mounted beneath the trough section |2 on a bracket 31, depending from the central portion of said conveyer trough section, by means of a transverse pin 38. Said cylinder is provided with a piston 40 having a piston rod 43 extending forwardly therefrom. Said piston rod has a pawl 44 pivotally mounted on the forward end thereof on a pin 45 secured at its ends in a forked bracket 46 which is secured to the forward end of said piston rod. A compression spring 4l is provided to yieldably hold said pawl in engagement with a rack 48 mounted on and extending along the underside of the extensible trough section I6.

The cylinder 36 is lowered about the axis of the pin 38 to permit the pawl 44 to be disengaged from the rack 48 or raised to position said pawl to engage said rack by means of either one of the hand levers 33 through a pair of links 49, 49 pivotally connected to said hand levers at one of their ends and having pivotal connection with the ends of rocking arms 50, U at their opposite ends. Said lever arms are secured to the outer ends of a pair of transverse shafts 5|, 5| mounted on the underside of the conveyer trough sectioni |2 in spaced apart brackets 52, 52 depending from the bracket 2| Said shafts extend transversely beneath said conveyer trough section and each has an eccentric disk or cam 53 mounted on the inner end thereof. Said cams have engagement with lateral projections 54, 54 projecting laterally in opposite directions from the upper side of the forward end of the cylinder 36. Said cams are so shaped that when the hand levers 33, 33 are' positioned to extend the extensible trough section |6 with respect to the conveyer trough section |2, they will raise the cylinder 36 to a position to permit the pawl 44 to engage the rack 48. When said hand levers are positioned to retract said extensible trough section within said conveyer trough section, said cams will permit said cylinder to move to a lowered position about the axis of the pin 38 and thus permit said pawl 44 to become disengaged from said rack.

Referring now in particular to the means for applying fluid under pressure to the icylinder 36 and piston 4U, a fluid pressure pump, generally indicated by reference character 55, is provided (see Figure 7). Said pump is herein shown as being a simple single-action cylinder type of air Compressor and is mounted on a storage tank 58. Said tank is mounted on a base 59 which is suitably secured to the ground by means of roof jacks 66 and 6| adapted to be interposed be tween said base and ,the mine roof, the jack 6D also serving as a shaft about which a pendulum 63 may pivot.

The pendulum 63 forms a means for actuating the pump 55 and is pivotally connected between the jack 68 and the swivel I. Said pendulum is adapted to swing about its axis of connection to the jack upon each forward and return stroke of the yconveyer and includes a member 64 pivotally mounted on the jack 60, a member 65 pivotally connected to Vthe swivel about an axis coaxial with the pivotal axis of saifd swivel, and a bar 66 pivotally connected with each of said members at its opposite ends on horizontal transverse pivotal pins 61 and 68, respectively.

'Ihe pump or compressor 55 is of an ordinary construction and includes a cylinder 69 mounted on the top of the tank 58 and having a piston 'IIJ mounted therein. A connecting rod 7| is provided to operatively connect the pendulum 63 with said piston. Said connecting rod is pivotally lconnected at one of its ends to the pendulum 63, for movement about both horizontal and vertical axes, by means of a member 'l2 which is pivotally connected to said rod on a vertical pin '|3 and is pivotally connected to an arm 14, projecting upwardly from the bar 66, by means of a transverse pivotal pin 15. The opposite end of said connecting rod is universally connected to a piston rod 16 by means of a member 'I1 pivotally connected to said piston rod for movement about a Vertical axis and having said connecting rod pivotally connected thereto for movement about a horizontal transverse axis. Thus recipro'cable movement of the conveyer trough line will reciprocably move the piston 10 within the cylinder 69 and compress liuid, such as air, in the tank 58.

The cylinder 69 has an inlet valve 'I9 and a pressure valve in its head end, said pressure valve being mounted in a chamber 8| in the head end of said cylinder. Said chamber has connection with a pipe 82 which leads to the storage tank 58. A pipe 83 leads from said storage tank to a manually operated valve, generally indicated by reference character 84, and mounted in the bracket 2| A pipe 85 leads from said valve to the head end of .the cylinder 36 while another pipe 86 leads from said valve to the piston rod end of said cylinder. The valve 84 is operated by means of a handle 8'! (see Figure 5) so that when in one position, fluid under pressure will enter the head end of the cylinder 36 for moving the piston i0 and piston rod 43 in a forward direction and positively extend the extensible trough section I6 with respect to the conveyer trough section l2, and when moved to an opposite position, fluid under pressure will be exhausted from the head end of said cylinder and applied to the piston rod end of said cylinder to move the piston in an opposite direction.

It may be seen from the foregoing that when the conveyer is operating along an ascending grade of such a pitch that the grip blocks 23, 23 and 24, 24 will not efficiently extend said extensible trough section, that manipulation of the handle 8l will cause the piston 4@ and pawl 44, engaging the rack 68, to positivelyT extend said extensible trough section from said conveyer trough section in the hereinbefore described manner. It may also be seen that the arrangement is such that the pawl M holds the extensible trough section I6 from backward slipping movement when the carrier members 22, 22 are positioned to extend said extensible trough section and can only be engaged with the rack A8 for extending said extensible trough section when the carrier members 22, 22 and friction grip blocks 23 and 24 are positioned to extend the conveyer.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be I altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not Wish to be construed as limiting myself to the specic embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a shaker conveyer and in combination with an extensible trough section, means for extending said extensible .trough section, and other means actuated by movement of the conveyer adapted to prevent backward slipping movement of said extensible trough section and selectively operable to positively feed said extensible trough section along ascending grades including a fluid pressure cylinder and piston and an interengaging connection between said piston and said extensible trough section.

2. In a shaker conveyer and in combination with an extensible trough section, means for extending said extensible trough section, and other i means actuated by movement of .the conveyer adapted to prevent backward slipping movement of said extensible trough section and selectively operable to positively feed said extensible trough section along ascending grades including a rack on said extensible trough section, a pawl engageable with said rack, and a fluid pressure cylinder and piston having operative connection with said pawl.

3. In a shaker conveyer, a conveyer trough section, an extensible trough section, feeding means for extending said extensible trough section from or retracting said extensible trough section within said conveyer trough section, means for positioning said feeding means to extend or retract said extensible trough section, other means independent of said feeding means adapted to prevent backward slipping movement of said extensible trough section vand selectively operable to positively extend said extensible trough section including a fluid pressure cylinder and piston and an interengaging connection between said piston and said extensible trough section, and means actuated by said means for positioning said feeding means to extend or retract said extensible trough section for rendering said interengaging connection inoperative when said feeding means is positioned to retract said extensible trough section.

4. In a shaker conveyer, a conveyer trough section, an extensible trough section, feeding means for extending said extensible trough section from or retracting said extensible trough section within said conveyer trough section, means for positioning said feeding means to extend or retract said extensible trough section, other means independent of said feeding means adapted to prevent backward slipping movement of saidextensible trough section and selectively operable to positively extend said extensible trough section including a fluid pressure cylinder and piston, a rack on said extensible trough section, a pawl operatively connected with said piston and adapted to engage said rack, and means actuated by said means for positioning said feeding means to extend or retract said extensible trough section for permitting said pawl to be disengaged from said rack when said feeding means is positioned to retract said extensible trough section.

5. In a shaker conveyer, a conveyer trough section, an extensible trough section, feeding means for extending said extensible trough section from or retracting said extensible trough section within said conveyer trough section, means for positioning said feeding means to extend or retract said extensible trough section, other means independent of said feeding means adapted to prevent backward slipping movement of said extensible trough section and selectively operable to positively extend said extensible trough section including a fluid pressure cylinder transversely pivoted to said conveyer trough section, a piston within said cylinder, a pawl operatively connected with said piston and adapted to engage said rack, and means actuated by said means for positioning said feeding means to extend or retract said extensible trough section for permitting said cylinder to pivot in a downward direction about its axis of pivotal connection to said conveyer trough sectionand permit said pawl to be disengaged from said rack when said feeding means is positioned to retract said extensible trough section.

6. In a shaker conveyer, a conveyer trough section, an extensible trough section, feeding means for extending said extensible trough section from or retracting said extensible trough section within said conveyer trough section, means for positioning said feeding means to extend or retract said extensible trough section, other means independent of said feeding means adapted to prevent backward slipping movement of said extensible trough section and selectively operable to positively extend said extensible trough section including a fluid pressure cylinder transversely pivoted to said conveyer trough section adjacent its rear end, a piston within said cylinder, aV pawl operatively connected with said piston and adapted to engage said rack, and means actuated by said means for positioning said feeding means to extend or retract said extensible trough section for permitting said cylinder to pivot in a downward direction about its axis of pivotal connection to said conveyer trough section and permit said pawl to disengage from said rack when said extending means is positioned to retract said extensible trough section comprising a movable member supporting the forward end of said cylinder.

7.1n a shaker conveyer, a conveyer trough section, an extensible trough section, feeding means for extending said extensible trough section from or retracting said extensible trough section within said conveyer trough section, means for positioning said feeding means to extend or retract said extensible trough section, other means independent of said feeding means to prevent backward slipping movement of said extensible trough section and to positively extend said extensible trough section along ascending grades including a iuid pressure cylinder transversely pivoted to said conveyer trough section, a piston within said cylinder, a pawl connected with said piston and adapted to engage said rack, and means actuated by said means for positioning said extending means to extend or retract said extensible trough section for permitting said cylinder to pivot in a downward direction about its axis of pivotal connection to said conveyer trough section andpermitting said pawl to be disengaged from said rack when said feeding means is positioned to retract said extensible trough section including a cam operatively connected with said positioning means and having supporting engagement with the :forward portion of said cylinder.

8. In a shaker conveyer, a conveyer trough line including a swivel, a pendulum pivotally connected to said swivel at one of its ends and to a fixed member at its opposite end, and a conveyer trough section connected to said swivel, an extensible trough section adapted to be nested within or extended from said conveyer trough section, and means adapted to prevent backward slipping movement of said extensible trough section with respect to said conveyer trough section and selectively operable to positively extend said extensible trough section including a cylinder, a piston, a pump for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder, uid pressure connections between said pump and cylinder, an interengaging connection between said piston and said extensible trough section, and a connection between said pendulum and pump for actuating said pump upon reciprocable movement of the conveyer.

9. In a shaker conveyer, a conveyer trough line including a swivel, a pendulum pivotally connected to said swivel at one of its ends and to a xed member at its opposite end, a conveyer trough section connected to said swivel, an extensible trough section adapted to be nested within or retracted from said conveyer trough section, and means adapted to prevent backward slipping movement of said extensible trough section with respect to said conveyer trough section and selectively operable to positively extend said extensible trough section including a cylinder mounted on said conveyer trough section, a pump for supplying uid under pressure to said cylinder, a piston mounted within said cylinder, an interengaging connection between said piston and said extensible trough section for extending said extensible trough section upon extensible movement of said piston, and a link operatively connecting said pendulum with said pump for actuating said pump upon reciprocable movement of the conveyer.

10. In a shaker conveyer, a shaker conveyer trough line including a swivel, a pendulum pivotally connected to a xed member at one of its ends and to said swivel at its opposite end, a conveyer trough section, an extensible trough section adapted to be nested within or extended from said conveyer trough section, friction gripping means for extending said extensible trough section from or retracting said extensible trough section within said conveyer trough section, and other means independent of said friction gripping means adapted to prevent backward slipping movement of said extensible trough section and selectively operable to positively extend said extensible trough section including a cylinder, a pump for supplying iiuid under pressure to said cylinder, a connection between said pump and pendulum for actuating said pump upon reciprocable movement of the conveyer, a piston movable within said cylinder, uid pressure connections between said pump and cylinder, and an interengaging connection between said piston and said extensible trough section.

11. In a shaker conveyer, a shaker conveyer trough line including a swivel, a pendulum pivotally connected to a xed member at one of its ends and to said swivel at its opposite end, a conveyer trough section, an extensible trough section adapted to be nested within or extended from said conveyer trough section, friction gripping means for extending said extensible trough section from or retracting said extensible trough section within said conveyer trough section, and other means independent of said friction gripping means adapted to prevent backward slipping movement of said extensible trough section and selectively operable to positively extend said eX- tensible trough section including a cylinder, a pump for supplying uid under pressure to said cylinder, a piston movable within said cylinder, an interengaging connection between said piston and said extensible trough section including a rack on the underside of said extensible trough ascending grades.

13. In a shaker conveyer and in combination with. an extensible trough section, means for extending said extensible trough section, and other 14. In a shaker conve n yer, a conveyer trough section, an extensible trough section. feeding means for extending said extensible trough section from or retracting said extensible trough section within said conveyer trough section, a hand lever for positioning said feeding means to extend or retract said extensible trough section, other means independent of said feeding means adapted to prevent backward slipping movement of said extensible trough section and selectively operable to positively extend said extensible trough section including an extensible member, an operative connection between said extensible member and said extensible trough section, and means actuated by said hand lever when said hand lever is in a position to cause said feeding means to retract said extensible trough section to disengage the operative connection between said extensible member and said extensible trough section.

15. In a shaker conveyer, a conveyer trough section, an extensible trough section, feeding means for extending said extensible trough section from or retracting said extensible trough section within said conveyer trough section, a hand lever for positioning said feeding means to extend or retract said extensible trough section, other means independent of said feeding means adapted to prevent backward slipping movement of said extensible trough section and selectively operable to positively extend said extensible trough section including an extensible member, a rack on said extensible trough section, a pawl operatively connected with said extensible member and adapted to engage said rack, and means actuated by said hand lever to cause said pawl to move out of engagement with said rack when said hand lever is in a position to cause said feeding means to retract said extensible trough section.

16. In a shaker conveyer, a conveyer trough section, an extensible trough section, feeding means for extending said extensible trough section from or retracting said extensible trough section within said conveyer trough section, a hand lever for positioning said feeding means to extend or retract said extensible trough section, other means independent of said feeding means adapted to prevent backward slipping movement of said extensible trough section and selectively operable to positively extend said extensible trough section including an extensible member transversely pivoted to said conveyer trough section, an operative connection between said extensible member and said extensible trough section, and an operative connection between said hand lever and said extensible member for permitting said extensible member to pivot in a downward direction and come out of operative connection with said extensible trough section when said hand lever is in a position to cause said feeding means to retract said extensible trough section.

17. In a shaker conveyer, a conveyer trough section, an extensible trough section, feeding means for extending said extensible trough section from or retracting said lextensible trough section within said conveyer trough section, a hand lever for positioning said feeding means to extend or retract said extensible trough section, other means independent of said feeding means adapted to prevent backward slipping movement of said extensible trough section and selectively operable to positively extend said extensible trough section including an extensible member transversely pivoted to said conveyer trough section, an operative connection between said extensible member and said extensible trough section, and an operative -connection between said hand lever and said extensible member for permitting said extensible member to pivot in a downward direction about its axis of pivotal connection to said conveyer trough section and come out of operative connection With said extensible trough section when said hand lever is in a position to cause said feeding means to retract said extensible trough section including a movable member supporting the forward end of said extensible member.

18. In a shaker lconveyer, a reciprocating trough section, an extensible trough section nested within said reciprocating trough section, means for extending said extensible trough section, and a rigid member mounted on said reciprocating trough section for extensible movement therefrom, and adapted to have engagement with said extensible trough section, to prevent backward slipping movement thereof when said extensible trough section is being operated upwardly along ascending grades by said extending means, and means actuated by movement of the conveyer and selectively operable to extend said extensible member, to cause said extensible member to positively extend said extensible trough section.

LOYAL F. CRAWFORD. 

